Germany footballer Arne Friedrich has admitted to concerns about South African fans blowing vuvuzelas at this year's World Cup.

However, the Hertha Berlin defender also said that players must respect and get used to the instrument, which can reach 127 decibels at full volume, AFP reports.

Friedrich said: "Every nation has its own way to celebrate the game, while I am not a fan - I must admit they are bloody loud - you have to respect them and the longer we are here, the more we will get used to them.

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"You have to adapt to it mentally, there will be plenty of noise involved in games, not just from the vuvuzelas."

He added: "You can think about adding ear plugs, but that would mean an even more serious communication problem on the pitch."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rejected calls to ban the instrument and claimed that its use is part of the football culture in South Africa.

"It is energy, it is rhythm, it is music, it is dance and it is Africa!" he said of the stadium horns.